BROOKFIELD -- In a vote that town registrars are calling "too close to call" Brookfield's 2011-12 budget results are in limbo.

This was the first time the town's budget was split. If either part of the budget -- $19.2 million town or $36.3 million education -- failed, the entire package would be defeated, First Selectman Bill Davidson explained the day before the vote.

But Registrars Dotti Dori and Jeffrey Dunkerton are consulting with the town attorney on whether another referendum has to be held due to the closeness -- a single vote -- of balloting for the school budget.

The $19.2 million municipal budget vote was 1,907 in favor, 1,801 opposed.

The $36.3 million education budget came in at 1,854 opposed, 1,853 in favor.

A failed education budget would most likely lead to cuts in personnel, said Art Colley, the school district's business and technology director. Superintendent of Schools Anthony Bivona could not be reached for comment Saturday.

"I don't understand what the registrars are saying," Davidson said Saturday night. "If the eduction side failed, the budget failed.

"Assuming that it didn't pass, I'm very disappointed," Davidson added. "Tremendous effort was put in to making these budgets reasonable for the taxpayers while continuing to move the town forward."

Voters were looking at a tax rate that would have been set at 20.04 mills, a 2.93 percent tax-rate increase, had the combined $55.5 million budget passed.

At that rate, the annual property tax on a home assessed at the median value ($308,470) would be $6,181.74, an increase of $175.83, according to Finance Board Chairman Bill Tinsley.

Robin Appleby, a member of Concerned Citizens of Brookfield, said the grassroots group feels "the middle class is being squeezed out."

The group had called for a "no" vote on the Brookfield budget package. Appleby called Saturday's referendum results "interesting."

"They need to keep the budget flat for next year," Appleby said. "The town has to tighten its belt and not raises taxes. People are being pushed out of Brookfield because of climbing taxes."

Davidson said the upcoming discussion with the Board of Finance if the budget is declared failed will be "interesting."

"I don't think anyone counted on this close of a vote happening," he said. "In my estimation, the first budget is always the best budget. If cuts have to be made, that means things that should be done won't be done. I'm very disappointed."